The use of the CO2-laser for the removal of awkwardly situated meningiomas.

The surgical CO2-laser knife is now a safe and well-proven instrument, which is being used more and more in neurosurgical practice. The particular advantages are its accuracy and the fact that much less handling of the tissue is necessary (4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11). We are reporting its use in eight cases of supratentorial meningiomas, six of which were in situations not easily accessible. The operations would have been very risky using normal technique because the tumours were very large and were also extremely vascular. The technical and clinical advantages of the CO2-La-ser are presented.